Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the meeting of EU foreign ministers, the Hungarian FM said the root causes of migration had intensified recently. Instability in countries outside Europe has a negative impact on European security, he said. Hungary’s stance is that international migration policy must shift quickly to solving problems locally and helping people to return home instead of encouraging further waves of migration, he said, adding that Hungary will continue to focus on border protection and exporting aid to areas where it is needed. Accordingly, Hungary will send another 70 soldiers to Afghanistan, increasing the number of Hungarians participating in the mission there to 170, Szijjártó said. Additionally, it has extended until 2024 the country’s annual contribution of 500,000 dollars to support national security and defence forces in Afghanistan, he said.

In the context of a nuclear agreement with Iran, Hungary resolutely supports the European Union’s policy which aims to preserve the agreement; or at least parts of it, Szijjártó said.